By Harrison Stewart — There’s trouble in Paradise Island. Quite a few more factions have arrived or reemerged to be part of the Amazons these days. You have the Themyscirans, the classic group which produced Diana, Hippolyta and Nubia; the Bana-Mighdall, a sort of confederation of Amazonian outcasts including Faruka and Artemis; and now the Esquecida, the “lost” and newest tribe on the scene from which Yara Flor hails. Each is part of the Amazons in its own way, and now that Doom’s Doorway has found its way to man’s world, they are all working to defend against this shared threat. Tension is emerging around how to deal with it, so naturally the groups are going to fight about their differences in a coliseum. Winner-take-all.

Trial of the Amazons #1 has quite a bit of ground to cover, and does so amicably. While on the one hand it continues the stories from Nubia, Wonder Girl and other recent Wonder-adjacent titles, Trial is also careful to lay groundwork for newer readers as well. There have been several big status quo changes of late, including Nubia being crowned Queen of Themyscira and Hippolyta taking up her daughter’s place on the Justice League. The writers deftly sprinkle these into the story, making sure the reader is up to speed without ever feeling overly expository.

Moreover, there’s the set-up for this particular conflict to consider. While the dueling factions aren’t friendly per se, they aren’t exactly sworn enemies either. There’s an air of fierce competitiveness one would expect from an island jam-packed with battle-loving warriors. But so too is there a level of political gamesmanship at play. As a diplomatic presence on the world stage, a competition to decide who the lead Amazons are has larger geopolitical implications. And as such, several players are keen to throw their hats (crowns?) in the ring as leader, determining not only who will rule but how she will make peace or war with the world of men.

While the bulk of the story is devoted to stage dressing for the impending conflict, the writers also treat us with some excellent character moments and a big cliffhanger. It’s fun to see the playful rivalry between Diana and Faruka as well as the bitter resentment the Bana-Mighdall hold for the perceived favoritism the Esquecida receive for being invited to the tournament at all. These scenes serve to differentiate the tribes from one another and establish that whatever the outcome, each has their reasons for wanting to be the victor. As for the big twist, it feels more consequential than any other moment in recent Wonder Woman history. The events of this book will permeate throughout DC canon and pose some uncomfortable questions of our Amazonian heroes that demand answers.

And through it all, Trial is a great-looking book. Occasionally when titles juggle more than one artist, the result can feel disjointed and jarring, effectively disrupting the reader’s engagement. No such disruption here though, despite having four separate artists sharing duties. While each artist’s style is different, they meld together well and are evenly divided by scenes, so the change is noticeable but not at all distracting. Each is well-suited to its part, making for a satisfying whole.

Overall: It may start slower than most event books, but Trial of the Amazons #1 offers enough intrigue and dire stakes to keep readers coming back. 8.0/10.

REVIEW: Trial of the Amazons #1

Trial of the Amazons #1
Writers: Stephanie Williams, Vita Ayala, Joelle Jones, Michael W. Conrad, and Becky Cloonan
Artists: Laura Braga, Skylar Patridge, Joelle Jones, and Elena Casagrande
Colorists: Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Publisher: DC Comics
After the events of Nubia & the Amazons, the dangers of Doom's Doorway have found their way to Man's World and garnered the attention of not one, but all three Amazonian tribes. The Bana-Mighdall consider it to be a weakness in the current regime and have decided to return to the shores of Themyscira to stake their claim over the island. Little do they know, the Esquecida are not far behind, but instead looking for help to combat the evil unleashed. Tempers rise and swords are brandished as the women argue about the best course of action.
Now Queen Nubia must show them all the way to peace by calling for one of the most famous Amazon traditions...the Contest. Who among them is worthy of leading them into the future? Find out as the bravest, wisest, and fiercest warriors compete to be champion of all the Amazons!
Price: $4.99
Buy It Here: Digital